the mix and match project was conceived by myself and chris schooley as a way of friends working collaboratively to educate ourselves and others about music. it started very simply: an exchange of mix cd's and coffee. then we talked more about it and decided to include more people, in an effort to make the result (hopefully) at least somewhat entertaining.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

mix and match volume 5 - submissions from mikesjava

Ok, maybe we should follow this up with a quick holiday version, just to get the spirits up…………………..

Nah…..most holiday music is so….what’s the word….canned?

Anyway, here goes…

Robert Johnson – Me and the Devil BluesTHE godfather of blues – it starts here. Always enjoyed him, but usually when someone was covering his songs. This is off the “Complete Recordings” and took me a while to warm to – but this is some delicious stuff. This song is a little obscure in its meaning, as most of his songs can be, but my sense is it’s about the devil waking him up one day, forces him do bad things and then taking him down to hell, and he can’t do nuttin bout it.

Ronnie Baker Brooks – Make these Blues SurviveA local blues guitar slinger and the son of the legend; Lonnie Baker Brooks. I have had the pleasure of seeing Ronnie the past 3 New Years Eve at a blues club in St. Charles, and twice his father joined him. Amazing showman! This song is sung with his father, with him passing the torch to his son, for he knows his time is short. He also tries to convey that sense of mortality to his son, that life is short, live it to the fullest.

Dave Matthews Band – BartenderOk…I know I have submitted a Dave song in 3 out of 5 submissions here, but, this is the first with the full band, but most importantly, I just absolutely love this song. But I promise, no more Dave after this (fingers crossed). The song is simple – he seeks redemption at a bar in heaven, with God as the bartender. He lets it rip vocally mid song, and then the band takes over, but it comes full circle with a sweet soft ending. Probably their most powerful song…..

Living Color – Times upSmoking band….saw them live about ten years ago, they warmed up for Mick and fellow stones….lets just say….blew them off the stage. This song is your basic, life’s short, the end is coming, live life to the fullest. Powerful and in your face.